Forest City, a RM1.8 billion golf resort and golf course opened its doors to the public over the weekend with the project having created 1,545 job opportunities, including 1,200 for locals so far, according to reports from The Straits Times.

In one article, The Straits Times reported, this equates to an 80% localisation rate of the total employee workforce through master developer Country Garden Pacificview (CGPV).

CGPV is a a joint venture between Country Garden (60%) and Esplanade 88 Danga Bay (EDSB), an associated company of Kumpulan Prasarana Rakyat Johor (KPRJ).

Country Garden revealed, adding that the hotel in the golf resort has over 150 local employees making up 90% of total hotel staff.

Ng Zhu Hann, director of strategy at Country Garden Malaysia, said in a statement yesterday: “Forest City Golf Resort and the Jack Nicklaus designed Forest City Legacy Course will attract golfing enthusiasts from all over the world and elevate the state of Johor’s golfing tourism reputation in the region, as this is a world-class championship course. This will also in turn draw major investments, promote the state tourism, opportunities and skill transfers to the locals.”

Despite the economic benefits touted, the mega-project – which consists of homes, retail shops, and travel offerings surrounding the new golf resort – has come under scrutiny.

In a separate piece, The Straits Times reported that Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said that foreigners can buy residential units at Johor’s Forest City development but that does not guarantee them automatic residency in Malaysia.

Chinese buyers account for about two-thirds of Forest City units sold so far. A fifth are from Malaysia and the rest from 22 other countries.